HELENSBURGH’S MSP has criticised the Scottish Government over their handling of the country’s railways - after ScotRail received its lowest performance level in over a decade.

Jackie Baillie called on the SNP to get the train company back on track, as commuters from Helensburgh face continuing delays, cancellations and short formed trains.

She claimed travel disruptions have led to many of her constituents arriving late to work, college and even hospital appointments.

READ MORE: MSP condemns 'stop-skipping' on Helensburgh trains.

Ms Baillie said: “It is hard pressed passengers who are paying the price for this SNP Government’s failure to run our railways properly, with a price increase green-lighted by them, despite the train company consistently failing to meet targets.

“It is time that the SNP backed Labour’s plan to bring our railways back into public ownership.”

Figures from the Office of Road and Rail show that failures in performance caused by ScotRail are up by six per cent year on year, with performance failures due to train crew up by 147 per cent.

Following months of disruption on routes across the country, ScotRail has offered some passengers additional compensation.

However, this scheme has not been extended to season ticket holders in the Helensburgh area, as the company stated that the problems they have faced were not a result of train crew shortages.

READ MORE: ScotRail says no to Helensburgh MSP's compensation discount call.

In response to the complaints, a ScotRail spokesperson said: “We know some of our customers have been frustrated by the service they have received from us in recent months.

“This continues to be a challenging time, and there are areas where we need to deliver a better service, but things are moving in the right direction.

“The investment we have, and continue to make, in Scotland’s railway is delivering more services than ever before and we are committed to giving our customers the service they expect and deserve.”